LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Carb and NORMAL distributor conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:18 PM
  #1  
mean_greenZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 1
Default Carb and NORMAL distributor conversion

Who all on here has successfully done this swap on here? I am strongly considering doing this to mine. I have been through opti hell ever since I have rebuilt my engine. I have had 2 unmentioned name opti's which ran fine but had the screws come out. So I bit the bullet and dropped the $400 on a new GM opti. The POS lasted a month and this is what it did.

Just put on my new MSD in hopes its construction would be better.

Drove it around the block and ran like a champ and then it started bucking and skipping at low rpms and running like ****.

-Checked cam dowel pin and it is in spec.

-Everything else is in good working order i.e. no leaks, new plugs and wires, everything mechanical is sound.

I can't even enjoy it cause of this Godforsaken shitty *** opti. Whatever crackhead designed that POS needs to be beaten to death.

So with that said, what do I need to keep the 4l60e with running a carb setup or is it possible? What am I looking at in cost? I already have 4-5k in the rebuild so LS1 swap and EFI connections LS1 pcm swap is out of the question.

Let me go ahead and put my flamesuit on for asking such a question of converting to a carb since that is not popular on this forum.
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:26 PM
  #2  
1badzee's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 0
From: SFL
Default

You will get flamed more or less for having such terrible opti luck. I just cannot fathom how so many people have problems. NOTHING wrong with the opti design - it works great. Water pump being over it kind of sucks, but hey whatever. I have a shitty *** NAPA re-manufactured opti with an MSD cap and rotor on my camaro running 4+ years strong and the car has seen tons of abuse in that time. What gives?? I wish I could actually contribute to the thread and answer your questions Well, I hope you find what you're looking for. Good luck man!!
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:42 PM
  #3  
shbox's Avatar
TECH Veteran
15 Year Member
Liked
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,145
Likes: 61
From: Little Rock, AR
Default

GM optis have at least a year warranty. Get it replaced.
Reply
Old Oct 19, 2010 | 09:42 PM
  #4  
mean_greenZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 1
Default

I don't understand it. I don't half *** stuff on this car and take my time and this is what happens. I didn't even get in the throttle much when the gm opti was on there plus it never turned past the stock 5800rpm limit b/c I was waiting on the guy to tune it. Can't ever get the ****** running long enough to get it tuned.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2010 | 03:47 PM
  #5  
Gojira94's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 36
From: Clayton, NC
Default

Get a warranty replacement, red loc-tite the rotor screws and pop rivet the rotor. Have a look at part 1 of my opti mod in my sig, pp.1-5.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2010 | 07:07 PM
  #6  
mean_greenZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 1
Default

Just got done doing some testing to dismiss any other possible problems. It threw a code last night o2 bank 1 lean exhaust condition. So I checked for exhaust/intake leaks re-tightened band clamps around headers, checked header bolts, made sure o2's were tight, all vacuum hoses in tact. All checked out fine. Made sure no plug wires got caught in pulley when installing NEW MSD OPTI. I reset PCM and took another datalog. It did not throw the code again but still idled very rough in closed loop. So I turned o2's off in tunercat to eliminate if it was a bad o2. I also set back my stock VE tables and turned the MAF back on just to eliminate that being an issue. Loaded new tune and started car and it immediately threw a MALF 36: Faulty Hi-Res Signal

WTF gives?!?!?!?!?!?! Why is this car tearing through opti's?????????????????

Could the use of a standard SBC single row timing set cause this?
Could the use of ASP underdrive pulleys cause this?

I'm at my wits end at this point.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2010 | 09:35 PM
  #7  
Jameslt1TA's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Wyoming
Default

Are your vents hooked up properly? I had to hook mine up different because of the turbo. Just make sure the check valvle and orfice and in the right.
Reply
Old Oct 20, 2010 | 10:46 PM
  #8  
idformula's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Default

The opti itself is a very good setup for timing, very good idea, just the nimrod engineer that thought it would be a good idea to put it behind the water pump is what makes the opti a bad idea IMO. I wish that we could move it to the back like the old 350's and keep the injection.

I say go for it, carbs can make just as much power as a properly tuned injection setup.
Just my .02
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 21, 2010 | 12:15 PM
  #9  
mean_greenZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 1
Default

The thing is what would cause this?? There is no reason it should keep destroying optis. Any ideas?
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2010 | 12:25 PM
  #10  
1redta's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: fort campbell
Default

The red loctite backed out on my car after a month. I followed the instructions never had any trouble before with loctite. Put some Green loctite on the rotor screws!
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2010 | 12:47 PM
  #11  
BlueRamAir's Avatar
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 1
From: Morris, IL
Default

Anyone actuall going to chime in on how to do the conversion? No offense but half a dozen posts about opti failures doesn't answer the OP's original question. I myself am curious about this conversion also.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2010 | 02:11 PM
  #12  
mean_greenZ's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,142
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by BlueRamAir
Anyone actuall going to chime in on how to do the conversion? No offense but half a dozen posts about opti failures doesn't answer the OP's original question. I myself am curious about this conversion also.
Thank you!! I still want to know how.
Reply
Old Oct 21, 2010 | 03:49 PM
  #13  
Gojira94's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 36
From: Clayton, NC
Default

https://ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-m...l#post13167404

I've read elsewhere you need to watch the CR as carb setups don't do as well as EFI at or above 11:1. Just what I've understood, correct ot not.
Reply
Old Oct 22, 2010 | 09:18 PM
  #14  
BlueRamAir's Avatar
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 1
From: Morris, IL
Default

Thank you sir!
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:20 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE